Euripides, Electra
Euripides Electra is one episode from the myth of the House of Atreus.
Pay attention to the following themes: Justice Hospitality Pollution Fate vs. Free Will What group does the chorus represent?
Why do some of the characters (important characters!) not have names? What has happened to Electra since the death of Agamemnon? Why did Aegisthus not wish Electra to marry well? What role does social class play in this play? hospitality? Why doesn't Orestes tell Electra who he is right away? Who recognizes Orestes? How? What plan do Orestes and Electra devise for dealing with Aegisthus and Clytemnestra? What does the chorus tell us about the backstory of the house of Atreus? How is Aegisthus depicted? In line 1004, why does Electra liken herself to a slave with respect to Clytemnestra? How does Clytemnestra justify her actions? How does this differ from other accounts? Food for thought... line 1051: What you say is just but it's a disgraceful kind of justice. Who does Electra blame? How is Helen portrayed in Clytemnestra's and Electra's conversation? We see Clytemnestra portrayed as a mother here - not just to the dead Iphigeneia, but to Electra and Orestes. How does she stack up as a mother? What does Electra mean in lines 1139-1146? How does Clytemnestra's death reference her murder of Agamemnon? What role does Electra play in the deaths of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra? Do Electra and Orestes feel any guilt over their actions towards Clytemnestra? Why or why not? What happens to Electra and Orestes respectively at the end of the play? Castor says in line 1244 "She has met with justice but you did not do justice." What does he mean here? What do you think Euripides feels about this sort of justice? In line 1279 - What does Castor tell us about "what really happened" during the Trojan War? How does this set Orestes' and Electra's actions in a different light? Who does Castor blame for the murders? If Electra and Orestes are not really polluted, why are they treated as they are? Are they punished? How do you think Euripides feels about the myth's resolution? about the gods? |
Characters to KnowElectra
Orestes Clytemnestra Dioscuri Castor Polydeuces |